Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute’s (HSWRI) research scientist and Seabass in the Classroom (SITC) program coordinator Mike Shane was expected to deliver juvenile white seabass to Mission Bay High School in San Diego on March 13 in furtherance of local education.

The SITC program incorporates a hands-on learning experience into a school science curriculum and couples it with field activities related to the release of cultured marine fish. The program teaches students about aquaculture and stock enhancement by growing, feeding, tagging and releasing the fish into local waters.

The juvenile fish have been cultured and raised at HSWRI’s Carlsbad fish hatchery since December 2013 and are now ready to “go to school” as part of Mission Bay High School’s brand-new Seabass in the Classroom education program. Mission Bay’s program is one of five local school programs that will benefit from expansion of the Institute’s SITC program because of the ongoing support of SDG&E and other private local donors and partners.

In August, the SDG&E Environmental Champions program renewed its grant support toward the SITC educational school program at $25,000.

The SDG&E Environmental Champions program is designed to benefit students in the local community who might not otherwise have the opportunity to expand their educational horizons and explore the exciting potential of a career or higher educational endeavors in marine research, environmental or related sciences.

Once released, the students’ cultured seabass are tracked by tags embedded in their cheeks.

This HSWRI program is an extension of the Ocean Resources Enhancement and Hatchery Program (OREHP). OREHP is the result of an extraordinary partnership between California state resources and agencies, public utility companies, fishers, fishing groups and the scientific community to restore the depleted populations of recreationally and commercially important marine fish.

OREHP releases thousands of fish each year and on Aug. 21, it released its two millionth white seabass. Adult fish have been recovered up to 13 years after release and more than 350 miles from their release site.